About Diabetes Self-management Education and Support Programs
Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) provides an evidence-based foundation to empower people with diabetes to navigate
self-management decisions and activities. DSMES is a cost-effective tool proven to
help improve health behaviors and health outcomes for people with diabetes.
An accredited or recognized DSMES service must meet evidence-based standards. The
accreditation and recognition processes help ensure that services are offering quality
education and make the services eligible for reimbursement from Medicare, many private
health plans, and some state Medicaid agencies.
There are four critical times to seek care for diabetes. 1) When someone is diagnosed.
2) At a yearly check in. 3) When a new challenge is presented, such as financial or
emotional distress, medication change or complications. 4) When there are changes
in a persons health or healthcare: physicians, insurance, moving to a new location,
or experiencing age-related issues. For more information or to find a provider near
you contact healthierwyo@uwyo.edu!
Diabetes Risk Factors
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is thought to be caused by an immune reaction (the body attacks itself
by mistake) [1]. Risk factors for type 1 diabetes are not as clear as for prediabetes
and type 2 diabetes. Known risk factors include:
Family history: Having a parent, brother, or sister with type 1 diabetes.
Age: You can get type 1 diabetes at any age, but it’s more likely to develop when
you’re a child, teen, or young adult.
In the United States, whites are more likely to develop type 1 diabetes than African
Americans and Hispanic/Latino Americans.
Currently, no one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes. [2]
Type 2 Diabetes
According to the CDC: "Insulin is a hormone made by your pancreas that acts like
a key to let blood sugar into the cells in your body for use as energy. If you have
type 2 diabetes, cells don’t respond normally to insulin; this is called insulin resistance." [3].
You might be at risk of deveoloping Type 2 Diabetes if you:
Have prediabetes
Are overweight
Are 45 years or older
Have a parent, brother, or sister with type 2 diabetes
Are physically active less than 3 times a week
Have ever had gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy) or given birth to a
baby who weighed more than 9 pounds
Are African American, Hispanic/Latino American, American Indian, or Alaska Native
(some Pacific Islanders and Asian Americans are also at higher risk)
If you have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease you may also be at risk for type 2 diabetes
[2].
Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) is delivered by diabetes care
and education specialists. Collaboratively, they work with a person who has diabetes
to create a plan of care that is personalized to an individual’s lifestyle, culture,
beliefs and environment. Sessions cover everything from understanding how to use devices
like meters, insulin pens, pumps and continuous glucose monitors, to interpreting
data from these devices to identify patterns and areas of concern. Together, they
work to find solutions that address their most pressing challenges [5].
Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support programs provide information and skills
for people to manage their diabetes. DSMES addresses your individual needs, goals,
and life experiences and is guided by evidence-based standards [5]. You’ll learn how to:
eat healthy,
be physically active,
monitor blood sugar levels,
take medication,
problem solve,
reduce risk for other health conditions,
cope with the emotional side of diabetes,
improve your health and quality of life
National Diabetes Statistics
Total:34.2 million people have diabetes (10.5% of the US population)
Diagnosed:26.9 million people, including 26.8 million adults
Undiagnosed:7.3 million people (21.4% are undiagnosed) [4]
Wyoming Diabetes Statistics
In 2019, 7.8% of adults in Wyoming reported a diabetes diagnosis [7]
For more information about thriving with a diabetes diagnosis click HERE!
The best times for diabetes education are:
1. When you’re diagnosed with diabetes 2. As part of your annual assessment of education, nutrition or emotional issues 3. When new complications arise 4. During changes in your healthcare team or treatment [6]
Find a program near you
Information Request Form
Referrals for DSMES must come from a provider, but this form will put you in contact
with an existing program near you, and will give you information on how to get a provider
referral.
